Song Calm Down Makes War Obsolete

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Photo Credit: online pic.

President Biden banned Tik Tok on government phones and all other devices because of its popularity. He doesn’t like the idea of human beings having common interests that transcend flags, rich or poor, race and religion. The internet, with all its flaws is proof of that.

I thought about that common bond when I first heard Calm Down on a Canadian radio morning show. Divine Ikbo known professionally as Rema, is 23 years old. His song Calm Down is better understood in Nigeria because the lyrics are a mixture of local languages like Igbo, Yoruba and street English that has no allegiance to grammar and spelling.

Radio shows play American music. That’s why I was surprised that it was on a Canadian radio station. What made me start drafting this blog is what I saw some weeks ago. It was a soccer match somewhere in Europe. The sports facility played the tape and all sections of the stadium erupted in Calm Down sing-along. A Nigerian song, taking the world by storm? Unbelievable!

You better believe it, thanks to Tik Tok and YouTube dance challenges. Calm Down is not only lyrics, but dance steps as well. People make videos dancing to the song. There’s even a little girl, about five years old, who does Calm Down to a T.

The lyrics are definitely Nigerian and Nigerians can relate to somebody being sweet like Fanta. Fanta is full of sugar. That’s why you don’t see this drink in Canadian, American and E.U. grocery shelves, but it’s very popular in Nigeria and most of Africa, especially if it is chilled.  

Recipe for Music Success?

Lyrics + dance steps that can be re-created in Tik Tok and YouTube videos, by all ages.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang. 

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